San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-04-16


thoughts that were burning on his lips.
and doom that lovelincss To life Of pri
vation-of wanderiug-of uncertainty
The girl was chattcIing on over her
cherries. In her heart she was not very
much afraid of the threatened heiress.
"Poor old Markr she said with laugh.
SLOW his ears must burnt ! wonder
whether he has recovered his blow yet
about cousin katef'
"Are you sure" demanded Percival
gloomily, shat it was his cousin Kate he
was in love With"
Certain" Sibyl answered--she was
holding a cherry as high as she could
over Captain Lansing's head; "he told
me So"
Then why is he coming back here"
persisted the young man.
ITO read, dear, of course. What else
should bring hin2"
"Sibyl,"-her cousin took cherry and
hand together, and held them in his lean
trembling palms-"will you promise me
that when he comes back he shall never
talk of love to your" He had meant to
be so prudent, so unselfsh; hut Sibyl was
hanging her fair head over her dish Of
cherries; a great red blush was stealing
over her face. What was he TO do?-
"Sibyl" he urged dropping his voice to
whisper.
al can easily promise that" the girl
answered TREMENDOUSLY "why need you ask
it, Percivalf
"Because"-he drew nearer-"1 want
the only right to hold your hand, and
look into your sweet eyes as | am do
ing now-because l love you, Sibyl, and
i know 1 am poor, dear-but you will
wait for mel want you for my wife
"Oh, Sibyl, will you take me dear, as I'M
worthy as l anvil you2"
He had his arm round her now, as they
sat on the sill, and she turned her cheek
to his and let him kiss her.
"Yes," she said in whisper. sand l
will wait all my life for you, Percival.'
There was a moment or two of sweet
silence between them then, and presently
he spoke again.
"You will wait, darling" he said, sal
though am poor and Mark Breton is so
rich Z"
81 don't see what that has to do with
it," s, id Sibyl. surprised, and gently put
ting the hair back from his forehead. 1t
was such handsome, eager, passionate
face that was looking at her.
women make such promises often, my
poor love-" the young man said with
bitter sigh-the grand shadow of his pow
erty had risen between him and his love
again, and was darkening the July sun
shine-"but they do not often keep them.
suppose it is not often that they can"
81 don't know what other women do"
Sibyl said gently. "Other women have
not you to love, dear. But will keep
my promise, and will love you all my
life, even if we should never be able to
marry each other at all"
Hand in hand the lovers went in search
of Lady Anna and told her their story
1t was such a pretty, hopeless, rash en-
gagement it was so exactly what she had
been hoping and fearing for these two
darlings of her sad life that Lady Anna
could hardly conceal her satisfaction
though she did try to preach little wis
dom in not very successful imitation of
the Countess.
But we are not thinking of marrying
at all, darling" explained Sibyl, with
charming seriousness. I'VE have only
agreed to love each other always; and
poor people can do that as well as rich"
When Percival came back week later
from the Castle, he was able to assure ST.
byl that Miss Golding, the heiress, had
proposed, and had been politely but firm
ly rejected.
"There's good boyr said Sibyl, steal
ing a little hand up to his tall shoulder
"But you shouldn't tell stories about the
poor thing, sir!"
at will be your turn next" prophesied
Percival grimly. "The Countess ques-
toned me very shrewdly about that little
tombOy cousin of mine-there's a cbarac-
ter for your lover to hear of you, madaml
and said something about having you
up there and trotting you out But fiat
ter myself l was not guilty of single
blush; and l told her ladyship-Heaven
forgive me!-that You were rather pref
ty." Then, suddenly drawing her to him,
and looking down with passion into her
sweet startled eyes, the young man added
hurriedly, "But you will be true to me,
Sibyl, even if they send for you and show
you off to all their fine friends3 You will
be true to me through it allf"
"Yes," sibyl answered quietly; shave l
not promised"